Terminal seal for batteries.



E. W. JEFFERSON.

TERMINAL SEAL FOR BATTERIES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2I| I915.

Patented Jan. 11, 1916.

ERNEST WALTER JEFFERSON, 0F WINNIPEG, MANITOBA, CANADA.

TERMINAL SEAL FOR BATTERIES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 11, 1916.

Application filed May 21, 1915. Serial No. 29,554.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST WALTER JEF- FEBSON, of 'the city of Winnipeg,in the Province of Manitoba, Canada, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Terminal Seals for Batteries, of which-thefollowing is the specification.

The invention relates to improvements in terminal seals for batteries orother "sources of electromotive energy and the object of the inventionis to provide a seal for the terminal of a battery which will inclosethe terminal and thereby prevent. any electrical connection being madewith the terminal unless the seal be designedly broken and by so doingenable the buyer or user of a battery to satisfy himself that thebattery has not been previously 'used.

' A further object of the invention is, while providing for a seal forthe above purpose, to construct one which can be readily re moved toexpose theterminal.

With the above objects in view the invention consists essentially in thearrangement and construction-of parts hereinafter more particularlydescribed and later pointed out in the-appended claims.

Figure '1 representsa perspective view of the device applied on abattery. Fig. 2 represents averticalsectional view through the cap,adjacent and inclosed parts. Fig.

' 3 represents an-enlarged detailed vertical sectional view through thecap.'.

In the drawing like characters of reference indicate corresponding partsin each figure.

1 represents a battery. of the ordinary form presenting the positiveterminal or binding post 2 fitted with a thumb nut 3 and the negativeterminal or binding post 4 fitted with a thumb not 5.

In actual practice I find that the top of the battery iscovered overwith a self setting insulating composition 6 such aspitch or a rubbercomposition, this material being poured when hot and allowed to hardenor set and inclose the top of the battery.

The parts as above described form no part of my invention as they arecustomarily found on the various types of batteries now on the market.

With a battery of the'type as shown, it will be seen that it ispractically impossible for one, when obtaining a battery, to find out,without actual test, whether it has been impaired as a source ofelectrical energy through occasional use, as might occur from tlme totime where such articles are sold.

The object of my invention is to provide a covering, particularly forthe positive terminal, which, when intact, will assure the buyer thatthe battery has not been used. \Vith this end in view I provide a moreor less dome shaped cap 7 which is fitted over the positive terminal andhas the lower edge thereof open. and provided at the side, slightlyabove said lower edge, with a small air vent 8. This cap is preferablyformed from a more or less stifi paper, although it can be constructedfrom rubber composition. celluloid or similar material. In cases wherethe cap is made so small that it might contact with the terminal, whenapplied, it is necessary that the cap should be formed from insulatingmaterial. In other instances, where an air space is reserved between thecap and the terminal, it is not necessary that it be constructed from aninsulating material. If formed from paper it said lower edge actuallybecomes set in the pitch when it hardens and accordingly makes the'cap afixed part. The opening 8 is provided to allow .the air, trapped in thecap, to escape when the same is being pressed down. In actual practicethis opening will appear, in the final position of the 'cap,'just belowthe upper surface of the pitch. By so covering this opening no approachcan be had to the terminal. With this cap on a battery and intact, oneis assured that the battery has not been used.

When it is desired to use the battery it is only necessary to tear thecap, if paper, or break it, if formed from rubber or similar material.Once it is broken a wire can be connected to the terminal and thebattery used in the usual way.

While I am aware that poles or terminals of batteries or other sourcesof electromotive force have heretofore been incased by what might betermed a removable cover or one allowing of approach to the terminal,yet, I do not know of any wherein, under normal conditions, the terminalis. permanently incased and cannot be approachedwithout destroying,breaking, mutilating or otherwise disfiguring the protective coveringorenergy of a battery or other source of electrical energy againstdischarge comprising, a destructible, covering for a terminal of thebattery designed to prevent an electrical connection being made with theterminal without involving the destruction of the covering.

2. A device for conserving the electrical energy of a battery or othersource of electrical energy against discharge comprising, a fixeddestructible sealing cap entirely inclosing and clear of the positiveterminalof the battery. I

3. A device for conserving the electrical energy of a battery or othersource of electrical energy against discharge comprising, a destructible sealing cap inclosing the positive terminal of the battery andhaving the base thereof embedded in the top of the battery andsurrounding the terminal.

. meaove 4. A device for conserving the electrical energy of a batteryor other source of electrical energy against discharge comprising, atemporary sealing cap in the nature of a paper dome inclosing thepositive terminal of a battery.

5. The combination with a battery or other source of electrical energyhaving the top closed over with a self setting composition and apositive terminal protruding through such composition, of a destructiblesealing cap inclosing the said terminal and having the base thereof setin the self setting composition. I

6. The combination with a battery or other source of electrical energyhaving the top closed over with a self setting composition and apositiye terminal protruding through such composition, of a destructiblesealing cap inclosing the said terminal and havingthe base thereof openand provided at the side with a vent opening, said cap being placed inposition on the battery prior to the setting of the composition and withthe base embedded in the composition and with the side opening, in thebase, closed by the composition and located, in the final position ofthe cap, just beneath the upper surface of the composition Signed atWinnipeg, this 1st. day of May 1915. I

' ERNEST WALTER JEFFERSON. In the presence of k GERALD S. ROXBURGH,

S. SILvERT.

